New evidence on column 319 could be pivotal to Tongaat Mall collapse

Expert engineer Dr Piet Pretorius threw a spanner in the works at the  Tongaat Mall Commission this morning  when he said he had new evidence to share.

The evidence is apparently to do with piling at the base of column 319, which is thought to have played a major role in the collapse.

Pretorius stated that engineer Andre Ballack had given him the new information before his testimony yesterday, which he had not shared with the commission then.

Commission presiding officer Phumudzo Maphaha stopped proceedings to review the tape (recording the commission of inquiry), to decide whether an objection by advocate Richard Hoal to the new evidence being introduced, would stand.

Things got heated and advocate Saleem Khan, acting on behalf of mall owner Jay Singh, claimed that Pretorius was confused.

Maphaha concluded that Ballack would have the opportunity to share his new evidence when he was called back to the witness stand at a later date.

The inquiry continued with an unexpected debate over the legality of the mall’s plans which took up substantial time.
The commission continues, with Pretorius expected to stand down soon.
The commissioner is also expected to announce several site tests to be conducted, before he calls Singh and Ballack to testify.

Extensive discussions took place around the piling at the base of column 319.

Yesterday Cameron Bulter, the Ballito branch manager for Form Scaff, the company that supplied material for the collapsed section of the mall was cross-examined.

Two people were killed and 29 injured in the collapse of the Tongaat Mall on 19 November last year.